~ covering government and politics in Missouri – since 2007

Running for at-large delegate to the DNC

One of the processes of the Missouri Democratic Party state convention is the election of at-large delegates allocated by the results of the March presidential primary. Individuals who would like to be selected as national delegates must file paperwork declaring their intent to do so and must also be approved by the campaign of the candidate they wish to represent. Before Saturday’s state convention eighty-eight individuals had submitted and were approved by Hillary Clinton’s campaign to run for eight at-large delegate slots (allocated to four women and four men). Over one hundred individuals had submitted and twenty-one were approved to run for seven at-large delegate slots allocated to Bernie Sanders’ campaign.

After the preliminaries at the convention the Hillary Clinton caucus (county level delegates allocated to Hillary Clinton who had also signed a Form B stating support for their presidential candidate) adjourned to another hall to hear the speeches of the individuals seeking to be selected by the caucus as at-large delegates. The Bernie Sanders caucus remained in the main hall for the same process.

All of the eighty-eight individuals did not speak. For one reason or another – travel difficulties, personal considerations, the expense of attending the national convention – a number of individuals self selected out of the process.

Those who remain have the opportunity to speak to the caucus. It’s heartening to hear the stories of long time party activists and newcomers who have committed to the process and have spent decades or years or months on the ground in campaigns – going door to door, working phone banks, stuffing envelopes, and everything else in support of Democratic party candidates. New activists, long time activists, office holders – all alike – face the caucus and tell their story.

Some individuals are nervous and soft spoken. Others are dynamic and polished in their presentation. Some are halting. Their stories, though, are similar. They’re Democrats and they’ve been working to elect Democrats. The caucus is always supportive of everyone as they speak.

After the speeches the caucus returned to their congressional district seating in the main hall to mark their ballots.